Earlier this week, I posted on the annual seal hunt in Namibia where an estimated 90,000 seals will be clubbed this year. I want to follow-up on this post, particularly with regard to Francois Hugo, where I stated:
Other activists, like Francois Hugo of Seal Alert South Africa, have taken a more practical approach. Hugo effectively delayed Namibia's seal hunt by one week after his failed attempt to purchase the company that purchases the Namibian seal products. While another company would have seen the opportunity to gain a large market share as a result, this at least represents a private sector approach to the cause.Seal Alert South Africa issued a press release today, announcing their tactics. Instead of picketing and going through international organizations to increase publicity, Mr. Hugo and Seal Alert-SA are working with the Namibian government, asking what it will take to add seals to their protected species list.
Hugo recognizes that traditional means will only serve to isolate the country (and its resources), "Exposing Namibia to international negative images and boycotts for decades to come." This is an activist organization who looks beyond his goals to the consequences of his means, and he should be commended for that.
While I may be wrong in my perception of this organization, please feel free to check them out for yourself at http://sealalertsa.wordpress.com.
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